Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38514145›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Assessing the accuracy of health facility typology in representing the availability of health services: a case study in Mali.

Samuel Petragallo, Pablo Timoner, Fleur Hierink, Caroline Fuhrer, Ousmane Toure, Akory Iknane, Youssouf Coulibaly, Ibrahima-Soce Fall, Nicolas Ray

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Samuel Petragallo *Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) Initiative, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pablo Timoner *Geohealth Group, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-4757-4928
Fleur Hierink *Geohealth Group, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland fleur.hierink@unige.ch.ORCID 0000-0002-2727-0540
Caroline FuhrerHealth Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) Initiative, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ousmane ToureHealth Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) Initiative, World Health Organization Mali, Bamako, Mali.
Akory IknaneTechnics and Technology, University of Sciences, Bamako, Mali.
Youssouf CoulibalyGeneral Directorate of Public Health and Hygiene of Ministry, Ministry of Health and Social Development, Bamako, Mali.
Ibrahima-Soce FallHealth Emergencies Program, World Health Organization, Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nicolas RayGeohealth Group, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-4696-5313

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUsing health facility types as a measure of service availability is a common approach in international standards for health system policy and planning. However, this proxy may not accurately reflect the actual availability of specific health services.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the reliability of health facility typology as an indicator of specific health service availability and explore whether certain facility types consistently provide particular services.

designWe analysed a comprehensive dataset containing information from 1725 health facilities in Mali. To uncover and visualise patterns within the dataset, we used two analytical techniques: Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Between-Class Analysis. These analyses allowed us to quantitatively measure the influence of health facility types on the variation in health service provisioning. Additionally, we developed and calculated a Consistency Index, which assesses the consistency of a health facility type in providing specific health services. By examining various health facilities and services, we sought to determine the accuracy of facility types as indicators of service availability.

settingThe study focused on the health system in Mali as a case study.

resultsOur findings indicate that using health facility types as a proxy for service availability in Mali is not an accurate representation. We observed that most of the variation in service provision does not stem from differences between facility types but rather within facility types. This suggests that relying solely on health facility typology may lead to an incomplete understanding of health service availability.

conclusionsThese results have significant implications for health policy and planning. The reliance on health facility types as indicators for health system policy and planning should be reconsidered. A more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of health service availability is crucial for effective health policy and planning, as well as for the assessment and monitoring of health systems.

Indexed as

Health FacilitiesHealth Services AccessibilityHealth ServicesHumansMaliReproducibility of ResultsGeographical mappingHealth policyHealth Services AccessibilityOrganisation of health services

Identifiers

PMID38514145
PMCPMC10961534

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.